“No Faculty Left Behind at Gavilan!”
FACULTY UNITY GROUP
21 August 2008
Dear Gavilan colleague,
Welcome to another school year! The Gavilan College Faculty Association has been hearing from part-time faculty lately, and what we're hearing is that it isn't always easy to be part-time at Gavilan. Surveys by the GCFA have surfaced discontent about everything from relatively low pay to serious gaps in communication. We heard you! A Faculty Unity Group consisting of part-timers and full-timers has been meeting this summer to explore union representation for all part-time faculty. We'd like to hear how you feel about this possibility; you should have received a mailing with a card to return. But please read on or talk to us for more information before deciding.
Why is this coming up now? Several factors have brought part-time faculty issues to the fore:
- responding to union advocacy, the District agreed in May to substantially increase part-time pay rates and institute a step and track salary advancement system that recognizes part-timers' continuing education efforts and allows them to advance on the schedule as full-timers do. This is a huge victory, and will require annual follow-up.
- a GCFA/Community College Association retreat in February put a number of part-time faculty issues on the very public Academic Senate agenda, where they're being acted upon
- a spring accreditation report recommending regular evaluation of part-timers triggers concerns that evaluations be done using contractual processes and safeguards
- an increase in complaints and grievances from part-time faculty has attracted attention from the college and union
- the surveys mentioned above surfaced some deep discontent and thorny issues, which part-time faculty have few means to address without a union
- the GCFA is due for a bylaws revision and may wish to include language that empowers part-time members
What has the GCFA ever done for me? Actually, lately, quite a bit! Please see What Has the GCFA Done for Me?
What benefits would the union offer? Collective bargaining representation, grievance services, voting rights, liability insurance, and membership perks such as special rates on loans and insurance. The website has links with much more information. It boils down to a simple fact: part-time faculty at other colleges who are union members enjoy higher salaries and many benefits. They get working condition improvements and there is always someone to hear and help out with their concerns. They develop stronger partnerships and alliances with full-time faculty. All this helps attract and retain excellent part-time faculty, which means better instruction for students.
What would it cost me? Part-time dues are set at the state level to reflect COLA, and are a fraction of what full-time faculty pay. This year it would work out to about $25 per paycheck for eight consecutive paychecks. It's not a lot to pay for all you get, and recent GCFA salary increases have greatly increased current earnings and future salary potential.
What do other community colleges do? More and more, part-time inclusion is an industry standard: community college faculty unions are including part-time faculty in their unions. Nearly all include all part-timers and provide opportunities for part-time faculty to get involved in union leadership, should they have time to do so.
Are part-time and full-time faculty interests similar enough? Many, even most, interests are-working conditions, fair compensation and benefits to develop a stable instructional pool within departments, etc. There are some interests that are specific to the different groups which could be handled separately.
How can I learn more? Ask any of us (we all have Gavilan email such as aarid@gavilan.edu), attend the Get to Know Your GCFA Ice Cream Social get-together on Wednesday, September 12, 3:30-5:30 at Mayock House, or visit the websites of the Community College Association and the National Education Association, our parent organizations.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Abad, Fine Arts
Ali Arid, Math and Science
Kathy Baameur, ESL
Kaye Bedell, Allied Health and GCFA Vice President
Bob BrownKorbel, Physical Education
Art College, Business and Computer Science
Erin Crook, English and Academic Senate President
Susan Dodd, Physical Education
Marlene Dwyer, Math and Science, GCFA Treasurer
Jim Frazier, Video and Film
Jessica Gatewood, English
Diane Guerrazzi, Journalism
Leah Halper, Social Science and GCFA Secretary
JoAnne Howell, Library
Kyle Hull, English
Matthew Johnston, Fine Arts
Arthur Juncker, Fine Arts
Debbie Klein, Social Science
John Lango, Physical Education
Enrique Luna, Social Science
Jane Maringer, Disability Resource Center
Albert Marques, Spanish
Craig Mosher, History
Leticia Palacios, TRIO Counselor
David Perez
Susan Quatre, Allied Health
Jane Rekedal, Fine Arts
Arturo Rosette, Fine Arts
Christina Salvin, English
Scott Sandler, English
Leslie Tenney, Counseling
Marc Turetzky, Political Science
Candice Whitney, Counseling
PS: Please don't forget to fill out and return the enclosed card in the envelope provided — we need to know what you are thinking, and the stakes really matter!